Adaleana and the Mute

By Quentin L.B. Smith

Discover the Epic Fantasy of "Adaleana and the Mute" by Quentin L. B. Smith

 

In the heart of the ancient Ethiopian and Eritrean kingdoms, a tale of courage and destiny unfolds. Princess Adaleana, at the pinnacle of her youth, faces the grandeur of a customary celebration that unites the northern and southern realms. But beneath the surface of this excitement, Adaleana harbors a restless spirit, yearning for something beyond the royal expectations.

 

The Mute, a young man of extraordinary character, defies the difficulties of his silence to carve a name for himself against all odds. When their paths cross, Adaleana and the Mute embark on a daring quest – one that challenges the very fabric of their world.

 

Set against the backdrop of a rich cultural landscape, "Adaleana and the Mute" is more than just a fantasy. It's a journey of duty, freedom, and the struggle to bridge worlds apart. As they travel the mysterious forest, ruled by the pseudo king Lord of Us, our heroes confront harsh realities and the weight of their choices.

 

This story resonates deeply with today's youth, echoing the universal struggle of finding one's place and embracing the beauty of diversity. Through adversity, triumph, and the unyielding courage to be different, "Adaleana and the Mute" is a testament to the power of resilience and self-discovery.

 

Join Princess Adaleana and the Mute in their quest for acceptance, as they unravel the threads of destiny that bind their fates. Quentin L. B. Smith weaves a narrative rich with purpose, compassion, and the unbreakable bonds of humanity.

 

Embark on this unforgettable adventure. Grab your copy of "Adaleana and the Mute" today and dive into a world where true greatness lies in being bravely yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Quentin L.B. Smith
• Release date: Dec 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798989540617

Book preview

Introduction

Love may be blind, but it will never be silent…

In distant lands that rested between the northern and southern kingdoms of Ethiopia, there emerged a story of triumph and unity. More importantly, a story of sacrifice and endearing love. The kingdoms had long been separated not only by the physical forest that lay between the Northern and Southern Mountains, but also by the separation of the people. The northern and southern empires were ruled by distinguished kings, and each was loved by their citizens within the walls of the kingdoms. But those who lived outside the walls of the kingdom, known as the Forest People, were caught in the crosshairs of the royal militia and the growing army of bandits that controlled the forest.

The Forest People were not ruthless by any means, but they were led astray by the manipulative leader of the bandit army in an arrogant attempt to reign and conquer equally as any of the kings on either side of the forest. And how did he manage to trick the people? Well, one thing the Forest People had in common was that they all had some form of physical limitation. Yet, they were still productive members of the society, but dreamed of establishing their own community. Not a bad dream, right? So how did it turn into the nightmare that existed in the forest? For that, I give you three words, Lord of Us.

Lord of Us was the self-appointed ruler of the Forest People. He was a trickster who led his trusting followers to believe that a life amongst their own would be best for them, when all he really wanted was to be hailed as a ruler, and he was not a good ruler at that. He led an army of bandits that terrorized the forest and outskirts of both kingdoms. He plundered his own people and held them captive along with travelers from the two kingdoms. He was short in stature and possessed a disfigured arm. He can be described as an emotional tyrant hungry for status and demanding allegiance from all.

Among the Forest People was a handsome but gritty loner, who was born a mute and also suffered from Waardenburg syndrome. Because of his inability to speak verbally, he was often ostracized by the citizens of the kingdom as well as the other Forest People. The mute was known for keeping his distance and often having his own secret refuge within the forest. He was kind in heart with pure motives, and his cunningness was always with regard to advancing true freedom and respect for the Forest People who were unjustifiably banished into the forest to be with the likes of Lord of Us and his bandits. The mute was not in favor of the antics and tactics of The Lord of Us, and he despised the lord’s efforts to capture and imprison individuals for his own personal gain of servitude. For this reason, the mute proved to be a constant thorn in the Lord of Us’s side in cunningly rescuing and releasing people whom The Lord of Us captured.

Chapter 1

The Mute

The chilly night wind blows through the entrance of the hollowed cave into the base of the Northern Mountains. The wind sends a haunting echo throughout the corridor and meets the Mute within the cave as he lies on his back, intently staring at the hieroglyphs that dance above him in the cave under the flickering of the fire’s light. The Mute lies there reminiscing about a time when life was more pleasant—a time when the people of both the northern and southern kingdoms were at peace. There was no group of people known as the Forest People, and therefore there was no Lord of Us.

Where did it all go wrong? The mute studies the story documented on the cave walls. The history speaks of great joy and prosperity across a unified land. And then, without even a trace of warning, there is complete turmoil. Why? How? the mute ponders.

He jumps up and begins to pace the cave floor, taking in all the hieroglyphs along the wall and touching them as he passes by. The wall illuminates, and he wonders even more, Why does it illuminate whenever I touch it? What does this all mean? What does any of it mean?

He opens his mouth as if to yell, but nothing comes out. The frustration and anguish can be seen all over his face. Just around the same time, Fenney runs up the Mute’s back to give him a reassuring coax; they are both startled by muffles and footsteps in the nearby forest. The mute and the fennec ease their way out of the cave and tiptoe under the moonlight in search of the commotion. Finally, they make their way to a makeshift camp where bandits have yet again gathered more captives. The mute and Fenney turn to each other and shake their heads from side to side in disapproval. They know what must be done. They take one more peep and tiptoe back to the cave to plan another daring rescue of the Forest People from the bandits.

Perched on a tree limb high above the forest ground, the Mute peers through the trees, looking intently for the chance to make his next move. Sitting beside the mute is his trusted companion, a speedy and equally cunning fennec, whom the mute had once saved from injury. From an upper branch in a nearby tree, they watch the bandits escort a group of captives comprised of men, women, and children. As the bandits push the captives along a straight line, the mute concentrates on counting the number of bandits surrounding the prisoners. Bandit Droopy Eyes taps one of the captured children with a stick and pushes the kid along, using his deep dragging voice to tell the kid to speed up. The little kid stumbles to the ground, terrified by the events surrounding him. An older man in front of the kid turns around to pull the little boy up, which causes the entire line to stop. The man glares disgustingly at Bandit Droopy Eyes as he helps the little boy up. The escort bandits quickly surround the compassionate prisoner in a successful attempt to signify intimidation and displeasure at him for disrupting the movement of the